Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Bankwest

Location: Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-06-11T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (50% office attendance)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design, from problem definition and discovery through to solution delivery for core banking app features.

• Champion customer-led design principles, utilizing research, behavioral data, and customer insights to shape intuitive and useful digital banking experiences.

• Collaborate within a cross-functional "product trio" (Product, Design, Engineering) to define problems, validate opportunities, and deliver impactful solutions.

• Apply and evolve design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency, while championing experience excellence across visual, interaction, and prototyping domains.

• Contribute to the transformation of Bankwest into Australia's favourite digital bank, with a strong focus on Everyday Experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Senior Product Designer focusing on the "Everyday Experiences" within the Bankwest native app. While the input data describes a "Senior Product Designer," the core responsibilities and required skills heavily lean into the GTM (Go-To-Market) and customer experience aspects of product development, making it relevant to operations-minded professionals who understand user acquisition, retention, and product adoption from a design and user journey perspective. The role emphasizes a hybrid work model with specific office attendance requirements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the problem space definition and end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial discovery and research to validated solution delivery.

• Drive collaborative discovery sessions with product and engineering teams, leveraging customer insights, behavioral data, and market analysis to prioritize critical problems.

• Translate complex problems into clear opportunities, framing hypotheses, and identifying decision points to build team confidence in strategic prioritization.

• Plan and execute user research using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover customer needs and validate design direction.

• Develop actionable design direction through journey maps, service design blueprints, user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.

• Utilize prototyping as a key tool for communication, decision-making, and validation, employing appropriate fidelity levels for different stages.

• Conduct usability testing and continuous iteration based on customer feedback and learning insights to optimize user experiences.

• Communicate design rationale clearly and effectively to stakeholders through storytelling and structured presentations, fostering buy-in and alignment.

• Operate within a dual-track methodology, balancing continuous discovery with smooth delivery of features.

• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships with product managers, engineers, and business partners to ensure cohesive product development.

• Apply and contribute to the evolution of the design system, promoting consistency and efficiency across digital products.

• Champion experience excellence, encompassing visual design, interaction design, prototyping, and user research best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities outline a senior-level individual contributor role with significant ownership and leadership in the product design process. The emphasis on "driving end-to-end design," "leading discovery," and "influencing solutions" highlights a strategic component that requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, akin to operations roles focused on process improvement and strategic execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field is typically expected for senior product design roles.

Experience: 5+ years of experience across the full product design lifecycle, including research, discovery, design, and delivery.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of comprehensive experience across the full product design lifecycle (research, discovery, design, delivery).

• Expert capability in Lean UX methodologies for synthesizing insights and validating design direction.

• Proficient in prototyping tools (e.g., Figma) to explore, validate, and communicate design concepts effectively.

• Strong interaction design skills with a deep understanding of native mobile patterns, platform behaviors, motion, and micro-interactions.

• Solid understanding of customer journeys, experience outcomes, and the ability to translate customer needs into tangible experience improvements.

• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, weigh trade-offs, and make evidence-backed recommendations.

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional environments and build strong partnerships.

• Working knowledge of business and technology constraints, coupled with a risk-aware mindset.

• AI literacy and a proactive willingness to responsibly adopt new tools and technologies. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for core banking or financial services applications.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.

• Experience in user research methodologies, including planning, conducting, and synthesizing findings.

• Contribution to or management of design systems.

• Experience with A/B testing and data-driven design optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of strategic thinking, practical design execution, and strong collaboration skills, which are highly valued in operations-focused roles. The mention of "AI literacy" and "risk-aware mindset" suggests a forward-thinking organization that appreciates operational prudence and technological adaptability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies demonstrating ownership from problem definition to validated solution.

• Highlight experience in user research, discovery, and translating insights into design artifacts (journey maps, wireframes, prototypes).

• Include examples of complex problem-solving and decision-making processes, illustrating trade-offs and evidence-based recommendations.

• Demonstrate proficiency in prototyping tools (e.g., Figma) and the ability to iterate based on user feedback.

• Showcase application of design systems and contribution to their evolution.

• Illustrate strong collaboration with product and engineering teams. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you've defined problems, framed opportunities, and shaped hypotheses.

• Documentation of research plans, methodologies used, and synthesis of findings.

• Artifacts showing iterative design processes, from low-fidelity concepts to high-fidelity prototypes.

• Evidence of usability testing and how feedback informed design iterations.

• Examples of how you've communicated design rationale and influenced stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer, a robust portfolio is crucial. It should not only display visual design skills but also the strategic thinking, process rigor, and collaborative approach that mirror operations' focus on efficiency, problem-solving, and measurable outcomes. Emphasis should be placed on demonstrating the process and impact of design decisions, not just the final output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Perth, Western Australia, with 5-10 years of experience, a competitive salary range would likely be AUD $120,000 - $160,000 per annum. This can vary based on specific skills, experience, and the fixed-term contract duration.

Benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements to balance professional and personal life.

• Access to resources for career development and professional growth.

• Annual volunteer leave to support community causes.

• A range of work perks covering financial, lifestyle, and wellbeing initiatives.

• Meaningful recognition programs that reward exceptional performance.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 50% office attendance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is an estimate based on typical market rates for similar roles in Perth. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, highlighting a commitment to employee wellbeing and professional development, which are key considerations for operations professionals seeking roles with long-term potential.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking and Financial Services. Bankwest is undergoing a significant digital transformation to become Australia's favourite digital bank.

Company Size: Part of the Commonwealth Bank Group, indicating a large, established financial institution. Bankwest itself operates as a major retail bank.

Founded: Bankwest has a long history, tracing its origins back to 1895, signifying stability and deep-rooted customer relationships, now evolving into a modern digital entity.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the Brand and Experience team within Customer, Marketing, and Communications.

• They will work within a cross-functional group including CX strategy, product design, experience design, and accessibility specialists.

• Collaboration is key, operating within a "product trio" structure with Product Managers and Engineers. Methodology:

• Customer-led design is a core principle, focusing on creating simple, distinctive, and useful experiences.

• Embraces a dual-track methodology for continuous discovery and smooth delivery.

• Values curiosity, collaboration, and bold thinking.

• Utilizes research, voice of customer insights, behavioral data, and market analysis to inform design decisions.

Company Website: https://www.bankwest.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: Bankwest's transformation narrative is crucial. The company is leveraging its established history to build a future-focused digital banking experience. This implies a culture that respects tradition while embracing innovation, a balance that operations professionals often navigate. The emphasis on customer-centricity and data-driven decision-making aligns well with operational excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role requires significant autonomy, leadership in design strategy, and the ability to mentor or guide junior designers implicitly through example and collaboration. It's a key player in shaping product direction.

Reporting Structure: Reports into a leadership role within the Brand and Experience team, likely a Head of Experience Design or similar, within the Customer, Marketing, and Communications division.

Operations Impact: Directly influences customer acquisition, engagement, and retention through the design of intuitive and useful app features. Designs contribute to customer satisfaction, operational efficiency (by reducing support queries through clear design), and ultimately, the bank's digital transformation success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to lead design initiatives for critical "Everyday Experiences" within the core banking app.

• Potential to influence the broader design strategy and adoption of new design methodologies and tools.

• Exposure to a large-scale digital transformation project within a major financial institution.

• Development in leadership and strategic influence within cross-functional teams.

• Potential for advancement into Lead Product Designer or Design Manager roles, or specialization in UX research or strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for a designer looking to deepen their strategic impact. The emphasis on "leading discovery" and "influencing solutions" means this individual will be instrumental in shaping the product roadmap, a trajectory that appeals to operations professionals who seek to drive tangible business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Bankwest Place, a corporate office environment. The role requires 50% office attendance, indicating a hybrid model that blends remote work flexibility with in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Perth, WA - 300 Murray Street - Bankwest Place. This is a central business district location in Perth.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment focused on cross-functional teamwork with product, engineering, and business stakeholders.

• Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma and likely other collaboration platforms.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with diverse teams to foster innovation and shared understanding.

• The hybrid model supports focused work at home and collaborative sessions in the office.

Work Schedule: Full-time, standard business hours with flexibility. The hybrid model allows for structured work, balancing focused design tasks with collaborative sessions, which is conducive to managing complex design processes and team interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment with specific office attendance requirements suggests a company that values both focused individual work and the synergy of in-person collaboration. For operations professionals, this balance is often key to efficient workflow management and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter review of application and resume, focusing on alignment with core requirements and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where candidates present 1-2 detailed case studies from their portfolio, showcasing their end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. Expect deep dives into their rationale, research methods, and collaborative approach.

• Cross-Functional Interview: Interview with members of the product and engineering teams to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to work within a "product trio."

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the hiring manager to assess cultural fit, leadership potential, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's vision.

• Potential Final Round: May involve a design challenge or further discussion on specific scenarios.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Process: Clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed (discovery, research, ideation, prototyping, testing, delivery), and the rationale behind key decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to demonstrate the success and impact of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, reduced task completion time, increased customer satisfaction scores).

• Showcase Collaboration: Highlight how you worked with product, engineering, and other stakeholders, and how you navigated disagreements or trade-offs.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with designing for "Everyday Experiences" and native mobile apps.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss challenges, failures, and what you learned from them.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is presented, focus on understanding the core problem, asking clarifying questions, and outlining your approach before diving into solutions.

• Demonstrate your ability to think critically, iterate quickly, and justify your design choices with user-centered principles and business understanding.

• Practice communicating your thought process clearly and concisely under timed conditions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a practical demonstration of design skills and strategic thinking, mirroring how operations roles often require candidates to solve real-world problems. The portfolio review is critical, so candidates should prepare detailed case studies that highlight their process, impact, and collaborative abilities, much like an operations candidate would prepare a process improvement case study.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma is explicitly mentioned, indicating it's the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Design System Management: Tools used to apply and evolve the design system (likely within Figma or a dedicated platform).

• Collaboration Tools: Platforms for team communication and workflow management (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Behavior Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or specific product analytics platforms to understand user behavior within the app.

• Customer Feedback Platforms: Tools for collecting and analyzing voice of customer data.

• Data Analysis Tools: Potential use of tools to analyze behavioral data and market insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a design tool, understanding customer data within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, if applicable to Bankwest's broader ecosystem) and how automation impacts user journeys could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is essential. Familiarity with analytics tools and an understanding of how design impacts customer data and workflow automation are highly valuable, bridging the gap between design and operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A paramount value, focusing on designing for customer needs and delivering genuinely useful experiences.

• Curiosity & Bold Thinking: Encouraging exploration, asking questions, and being willing to challenge the status quo to find innovative solutions.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork across functions (Product, Engineering, CX, Marketing) to achieve shared goals.

• Simplicity & Clarity: Driving towards banking experiences that are uncomplicated, smart, and fast.

• Continuous Improvement: Utilizing feedback, data, and iteration to constantly refine and optimize user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, working within cross-functional "product trios" and broader teams.

• Employs clear communication and storytelling to bring stakeholders along.

• Operates in a dual-track rhythm, integrating discovery and delivery teams.

• Values building strong, effective partnerships across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on customer-centricity, collaboration, and continuous improvement are core tenets that resonate strongly with operations professionals. Understanding and embodying these values will be key to success in this role and within the Bankwest culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Digital Transformation Pace: Navigating the complexities and rapid pace of transforming a traditional bank into a digital leader.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Synthesizing diverse stakeholder requirements and business constraints with customer needs.

• Simplifying Complexity: Designing intuitive experiences for complex financial products and services.

• Data-Driven Iteration: Effectively leveraging quantitative and qualitative data to drive design decisions and measure impact.

• Hybrid Work Dynamics: Optimizing collaboration and workflow efficiency within a hybrid work model.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen expertise in native mobile app design and financial services UX.

• Gain exposure to large-scale digital transformation projects and enterprise-level design systems.

• Develop stronger leadership and influence skills within cross-functional teams.

• Opportunities to learn about AI applications in customer experience and banking.

• Potential for formal training or certifications in advanced UX methodologies or related fields.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in large-scale digital transformation initiatives, requiring strategic thinking and adaptability, much like in operations. The growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and leadership, aligning with career progression aspirations for senior professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the end-to-end design of a complex feature. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, research, iteration, and impact.)

• "How do you approach balancing customer needs with business and technical constraints?" (Prepare examples of trade-offs and evidence-based decision-making.)

• "Walk us through a case study from your portfolio that best demonstrates your skills in designing for 'Everyday Experiences' within a mobile app." (Be ready to discuss your specific role, process, research, and quantified results.)

• "How do you collaborate with product managers and engineers? Describe a time you influenced a product decision through design." (Highlight your communication and partnership skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Bankwest's mission to become Australia's favourite digital bank?" (Research their transformation strategy and express genuine interest.)

• "How would you contribute to our customer-led design culture?" (Connect your values and experience to their stated principles.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment and how you ensure effective collaboration." (Discuss strategies for remote and in-office teamwork.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narratives: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the measurable outcomes.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-fidelity visuals, flow diagrams, and prototypes to illustrate your design journey.

• Focus on 'Why': Be prepared to explain the rationale behind every significant design decision.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics whenever possible to demonstrate the value your design brought.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about challenges, alternative solutions considered, and your learning process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a robust design process, and strong collaborative capabilities, mirroring the requirements for senior operations roles. Highlighting the impact of design decisions through data and clear storytelling is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday careers portal link.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate 1-2 compelling case studies that showcase your end-to-end product design process, focusing on mobile app experiences and demonstrating problem-solving, research, iteration, and measurable impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience across the full product design lifecycle, emphasizing skills in Lean UX, interaction design, prototyping, research, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Research Bankwest: Understand their digital transformation goals, customer focus, and values. Prepare to articulate how your skills and approach align with their mission.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear communication, concise explanations of your process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your design decisions and collaborative approach.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Bankwest during the application and interview process.